Just plain lost!!!

[jmeyer2952]

I have just recently gotten serious about losing weight and toning. Before I would take diet pills, try fad diets or do Adkins. Then I'd either get bored and just go back to eating like normal or lose the weight and go back to eating like normal. But those things don't "tone" you up. Recently, I've become extremely intrigued with losing weight the "right way". Cutting calories, exercising, and eating healthy. Thing is, I'm just lost. I never knew there was so much to getting into shape. After reading some of the suggestions on this website, I am much more aware of caloric intake. I always just assumed consuming the least amount of calories that was deemed "safe" was the way to go. But learned the reason I'm not losing weight is because I'm not eating enough calories. So I got that.

Exercising is my biggest weakness. I love weight lifting, but like most girls, I worry about looking too "manly". Any suggestions or websites that might give me an idea on what exercises/reps I should do to slim down and not bulk up? I'm not a runner, but have no problem walking for cardio.

Please help!

 

[OUCaptain]

You gotta be pretty hardcore to get manly. I started the Stronglifts.com beginners program 3 weeks ago. I can't begin to tell you how much better I've felt. I really started seeing the benefits about 1 1/2 weeks in. The thread about it is on page two at the moment.

 

[M0oG0oGaiPan]

Think about how hard it is for anyone to get big. It's a gradual transition. Most guys aren't saying stuff like Oh no I'm getting too buff. Same with women. You're not going to get manly overnight.

 

[presidentender]

It is impossible for you to get so muscular and "manly" as to be unappealing by accident. Don't let fear of that stop you from getting in shape. My advice? Eat less (hard) and exercise more (easy).

 

[MegaVovaN]

Agreed. You won't get ripped and bulky because your body does not produce testosterone hormone. Your muscles/body will become "toned" however.
Do same basic lifts as men - Rippetoe or Stronglifts program.

"Basic" lifts are:
Squat
Bench Press
Deadlift

there's more to it, such as dips, chin up and pull ups (would you like to outdo a man you know on pull ups? ), AB work, and so on.

You need to eat healthy food.

 

[paulxcook]

It is hard for men, who have lots of genetic advantages over women when it comes to building muscle, to get big. I would bet my paycheck that you will not accidentally get too big, even if you start doing lots of weight lifting.

The best thing I can tell you (as a beginner myself, started in December) is to not get too bogged down in the details. Stick to the basics and learn as you go. The biggest deterrent to actually changing your lifestyle and living healthy, IMO, is the needless over complication of simple concepts. There's a lot of misinformation out there, you'll need to get good at separating BS from truth.

 

[KoolDrew]

I only wish it were easy to become huge overnight. Especially in a calorie deficit...

The best thing I can tell you (as a beginner myself, started in December) is to not get too bogged down in the details. Stick to the basics and learn as you go. The biggest deterrent to actually changing your lifestyle and living healthy, IMO, is the needless over complication of simple concepts.

:thumbsup:

This is probably the best piece of advice you'll get and I really wish somebody told me this when I started.

EDIT - What are your current stats?

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: KoolDrew
I only wish it were easy to become huge overnight. Especially in a calorie deficit...

The best thing I can tell you (as a beginner myself, started in December) is to not get too bogged down in the details. Stick to the basics and learn as you go. The biggest deterrent to actually changing your lifestyle and living healthy, IMO, is the needless over complication of simple concepts.

:thumbsup:

This is probably the best piece of advice you'll get and I really wish somebody told me this when I started.

EDIT - What are your current stats?

LOL, didn't anybody tell you it's not polite to ask a lady what she weighs?

 

[jmeyer2952]

Ha Ha! Its ok. I'm 5'9" and 156 lbs. Its not a bad weight, but I'd obviously just like to be lower and toner!

I've sent a couple people PMs about this, but I tried to download the eBook from Stronglifts and it isn't working. Any tricks to it? Or can someone email it to me?

 

[MegaVovaN]

Originally posted by: jmeyer2952
Ha Ha! Its ok. I'm 5'9" and 156 lbs. Its not a bad weight, but I'd obviously just like to be lower and toner!

I've sent a couple people PMs about this, but I tried to download the eBook from Stronglifts and it isn't working. Any tricks to it? Or can someone email it to me?

The link is in newsletter from the site, at the bottom. But here is a direct link for you: Text